Dacoits strike at Pune8217;s heart

The only watchman at the society, Prem Singh Chavan 75 of Kasewadi slums in Bhavani Peth, claimed that the knife-wielding men attacked and tied him up before ransacking the flats of J N Hariramani and Jeevanram Dhansinghani in building number 3.

However, the police said Chavan was attempting to mislead them in a bid to cover up his lapse. Chavan8217;s sons, Shankar and Mangesh, dismissed his claim alleging that he was in an inebriated condition when he went on duty around 9.30 pm on Monday.

Inspector in-charge of Samarth police station Jayant Shastri said the dacoits forced entry into the two flats by breaking open the locks. Both the flats were ransacked. Details of the stolen booty could not be ascertained.

Hariramani8217;s flat was vacant since his death a and a half year ago. Dhansinghani8217;s flat was unoccupied since December 1998 as he has been admitted to a city hospital, the police said.

Hariramani8217;s relatives said his son, who is abroad, had kept the valuables in a bank locker during his recent visit to India. Silver articles in Dhansinghani8217;s house were untouched, they added.

Some sets of finger prints were found in both the flats. Sniffer dogs picked up the trail to an autorickshaw stand near Pudumjee Park police chowki.

According to Chavan, he was attacked by the men while patrolling the campus.